PHOTOS-Queen’s Trooping of the colour

I was in London and the sun was shining so I thought a quick trip from my hotel in Victoria past Buckingham Palace to visit the delights of Shoreditch was in the offering (a post on THAT visit soon.) But stopping outside The Palace for a few quick shots and I realised that there was only a handful of tourists about but loads of barriers and police in the vacinity. After a few quick snaps we were all moved on so preparations could begin for The Queen’s Trooping of the Colour event in her Diamond Jubilee year. (I probably would’ve avoided the area if I’d known!)


It was only about 9am and the place was empty…apart from workers still brushing the streets, removing traffic lights and security performing checks on people from afar! The traffic lights were almost plug n play and was great to see how quickly (and easy) they were to remove, then hundreds of police turned up to line the route and keep the spectators entertained!


And so the parade began around 10.30 with many soldiers, guards and regiments marching past us to a really upbeat soundtrack – each led forward by in one instance a bedraggled DOG!





Even though there were Metropolitan police every few meters along the route there was also a lot of armed police present too. I spotted a large firearm across their shoulders and a much smaller pistol type weapon in a holster around their waist.


Thousands of people lined the route from Buckingham Palace upto The Mall to watch the parade and show their support for the soldiers. The crowd was a total mixture of tourists and Royalists from the Greater London area – consisting of families with children to pensioners and everyone else in between.
Once all the soldiers had paraded past it was time for the horses next.


And then just before 11 o’clock it was time for the Royal entourage to leave Buckingham Palace and make it’s way up The Mall. We had no idea who was going to be travelling (apart from The Queen) or how or who they were going to travel with. I did manage to capture Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne on horseback before setting off (but never actually saw them pass – did they take another route?)

Then the first carriage passed which contained Camilla Parker-Bowles sat next to Kate Middleton with Prince Harry sat opposite – it was a camera frenzy with not too many people cheering or waving flags at this point!



Then it was time for the main event – Queen Elizabeth II leaving Buckingham Palace in her Diamond Jubilee year. Sat in an enclosed carriage and sat on the opposite side from where the crowds were lining the street, she swiftly passed the muted crowds who were attempting to capture at least one shot of her Majesty. Luckily I managed to get a quick shot of her but it all happened so quickly that I’m surprised I even got one shot!



The whole set can be viewed by pressing play on the slideshow below or by visiting the set on Flickr:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djleekee/sets/72157630157228512/with/7385716486/